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“What?”

“You’ve made this inconvenient for both of us.”

I look past her.

The student lot is mostly empty. Three rows of cars, pools of yellow light beneath the lamps, the humanities building behind us. I can see the doors we came through. Nobody’s standing outside them. The windows are dark except for two on the third floor.

I don’t remember whether the cameras cover this lot.

“Get in the car, Oliver.” Heather opens the passenger door farther.

“My name is Nathaniel.” I stay where I am. “Why are you calling me Oliver?”

“Because that’s your name now.”

There are answers that clarify a situation and answers that make it considerably worse. I look at her again. Her breathing is normal. She isn’t watching the building or checking the lot.

“How long have you been following me?”

Heather smiles. “Long enough.”

The cold air helps. Not enough, but it gives me something clean to concentrate on. I take a slow breath and try to measure what’s happening to me.

My mouth is dry. My balance is deteriorating. My thoughts still feel orderly, but I have to work harder to hold onto the end of one while beginning another.

I drank from the coffee twice. Possibly three times. I should know that too.

Heather shifts her grip on my wrist. “You need to get in the car.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“Home.”

“Mine?”

“Ours.”

I let the silence sit. Most people become uncomfortable after three or four seconds. Students rarely make it past two. Heather waits.

“You planned this.”

Heather moves a little closer. “You ask a lot of questions.”

“It’s kept me employed.”

“Your job has changed.”

I think about the six readings. Her usual seat changed twice before settling in the fourth row. She never arrived late. Never left early. I remember her because she listened differently from most of the people who came regularly. She watched the room when someone else spoke. Watched me when I did.

“How much do you know about me?”

“A lot.”

My phone is still in my pocket. I keep my eyes on Heather. “Why me?”

Her expression softens in a way I find more disturbing than anything she’s said so far.

“I want that voice in my ear at night, and I’m tired of sharing it with strangers.”